Longest Winning Streaks in Grand Slam History: Tennis Legends Ranked

Player Profiles & Legacy

1. Björn Borg – The Ice Man: Imperious but calm and collected, Björn Borg’s 11 Grand Slam wins at the end of the 1970s and early 1980s were the stuff of legend. The Swede went 49 matches unbeaten in 1978, breaking his previous record, and he even won the French Open without dropping a set. He forged one of the greatest rivalries in tennis with John McEnroe, and he would have extended his record to 50 wins had it not been for his US Open final defeat to Jimmy Connors. Borg’s dominance earned him plenty of plaudits from the industry experts, and he gained a flawless ‘SB Score’.

2. Guillermo Vilas – Argentine Dominator: Dedicated to perfection, Guillermo Vilas’s tennis record, and more specifically, his 46 straight wins was down to the fact he changed all aspects of his game, including his serve and strategy. While his streak came to an ugly end against Ilie Nastase, Vilas reshaped South American tennis, and he was one of the undisputed kings of clay. He was just pipped in the ‘SB Market Index’ by Borg.

3. Roger Federer – Swiss Maestro: At the peak of his powers, Roger Federer’s streaks on the ATP Tour were extraordinary. He upped his 35-match roll of consecutive wins in 2005-2006 with 41 in 2006-07, and that included two Grand Slam titles. One of the kings of Wimbledon, Federer’s grace and dominance were masterful, as reflected by his brilliant SB Score.

4. Novak Djokovic – Modern Era King: Apart from spending the most weeks as world No.1, Novak Djokovic’s winning streak in 2011 saw him soar to new heights. 43 straight wins on the bounce, including his second Australian Open title, marked one of his best seasons ever. While the end of the campaign petered out with a back injury, this was the year Djokovic stepped out of Federer’s shadow. The Serbian’s ‘SB Score’ and ‘Industry Insights’ rating dovetailed nicely.

5. Other Legends – Among the other players featured, we had to touch on Jimmy Connors’ Grand Slam record and Ivan Lendl’s winning streak. Connors bullied his opponents, winning more ATP Tour titles than any other player, and was a true concrete court great. Lendl, meanwhile, may have suffered plenty of Slam heartache, but his 44-match winning streak which started in 1981 and finished in 1982, showcased his versatility across clay, hard and carpet. Similarly, McEnroe’s 42-match winning streak between 1983 and 1984 deserves some mention. Despite his on-court antics, the American was one of the best male players of all time, and his canny shot-making saw him scoop plenty of titles, and he returned solid scores across the board.